Hagel Ouster Shines Light on Power Shift

“The forced resignation of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is exposing deep tensions between the Pentagon and President Obama’s national security staff,” The Hill reports.

“While administration aides characterized Hagel’s departure as a mutual decision, insiders say it was the culmination of a larger power struggle that has intensified in Obama’s second term… Defense experts say there has long been distrust between the West Wing and the Pentagon, dating back to decisions about the ‘surge’ in Afghanistan in 2009 and the Iraq troop drawdown in 2011.”